Form No. 10-300 (Rev. 10-74) I ft 0 && <^ V UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR DATA SHEET NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM

SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOWTO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS NAME

HISTORIC Scout's Rest Ranch (LNOO-12) AND/OR COMMON Ranch State Historical Park

STREET & NUMBER u CITY. TOWN y '"" (J. CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT North Platte Jj^.VICINITY OF Third STATE CODE COUNTY CODE 31 Lincoln 111 HfCLASSIFICATION

CATEGORY OWNERSHIP STATUS PRESENT USE —DISTRICT X_PUBLIC J-^OCCUPIED —AGRICULTURE E.MUSEUM -XBUILDING(S) —PRIVATE —UNOCCUPIED —COMMERCIAL —PARK —STRUCTURE —BOTH —WORK IN PROGRESS —EDUCATIONAL —PRIVATE RESIDENCE —SITE PUBLIC ACQUISITION ACCESSIBLE —ENTERTAINMENT —RELIGIOUS —OBJECT —IN PROCESS — YES: RESTRICTED —GOVERNMENT —SCIENTIFIC —BEING CONSIDERED -XYES: UNRESTRICTED —INDUSTRIAL —TRANSPORTATION —NO —MILITARY —OTHER: [OWNER OF PROPERTY

NAME State of Nebraska. Game and Parks Commission STREET & NUMBER State Capitol CITY. TOWN STATE Lincoln __ VICINITY OF Nebraska HLOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION COURTHOUSE, --'. REGISTRY OF DEEDS.ETC. Lincoln County Courthouse . * STREET & NUMBER

CITY. TOWN ^ STATE North Platte Nebraska REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS TITLE Historic Preservation in Nebraska DATE —FEDERAL JLsTATE —COUNTY —LOCAL DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS Nebraska State Historical Society CITY. TOWN Lincoln CHECK ONE

—EXCELLENT —DETERIORATED —UNALTERED JLGOOD —RUINS X-ALTERED —MOVED _ UNEXPOSED

Scout f s Rest Ranch was the ranch home of William F. Cody, "Buffalo Bill". The ranch is located immediately west of the city of North Platte, Nebraska, and just south of the North Platte River. Scout Creek flows through the ranch, between the house and barn. The ranch originally consisted of 4,000 acres. Now the Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park covers 65 acres, a portion of which is biing nominated. The buildings constructed for Cody (the house, barn, ice house, and cob house) are being nominated, while the modem structures necessary for park maintenance are not felt to be eligible. House, 1886 The two-story frame house was built in 1886 to accommodate the many friends Cody entertained and the family of Al & Julia Goodman, his sister and brother-in-law, who managed the ranch. Cody had certain specifications as to size and the furnishings of his rooms but general decisions about the house were left to his sister. The builder was Patrick Walsh of North Platte who completed the house for $3,900. The rear addition to the house was added in 1909. The design of the house is derived from the Second Empire style with Italianate and Eastlake features. The mansard roof with prominent dormers and the three-story tower are principal Second Empire characteristics. The mansard roof is covered with round-edged wood shingles. The gable-i roofed dormer windows have a decorative proj ecting detail in the point of the gable. A mansard roof tops the three-story tower and is edged with a wooden cresting and small spires at the corners, as is the house roof. The irregular massing of the exterior is typical of the Second Empire style. ; . ' r- - -' ">

The Italianate features include the two-story bay window on the east which cuts through the mansard roof, and the brackets under the cornice. Cody requested that the front porch be ten feet wide so it would be spacious enough for entertaining. The porch trim suggests anEastlake influence. It was fairly typical for the Second Empire style houses to be Americanized with Eastlake porches. Originally the porch railing did have turned posts as still exist on the porch roof railing. During 1962-64 the house was renovated and restored by the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission as part of their project to make Scout's Rest a State Historical Park, tfajor structural and interior renovation; took place at that time. Original materials were sayed where possible; however in many cases deterioration was so complete that parts had to be replaced. To provide structural strengthening, steel "I" beams and poured concrete footings were placed uncler the house. New joists and additional cross bracing under the floors were also added. The original shingle siding, porch railings and details were removed, cleaned, and reused when possible. The majority of the siding had to be replaced because of deterioration. Form No. 10-300a (Rev. 10-74) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES -'':' :^£- :::'::::"::£:::'-:"i-:-:::"-"-:---. •'''•'.'••'' ' •'•'• INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM

CONTINUATION SHEET Description ITEM NUMBER 7 PAGE 2______

The replacement siding was specially made to match the original. Interior walls and ceilings were stripped and new lath and plaster installed. Since 1964 the ranch has been open to the public.

Barn, ca. 1887 Of wood construction, the two-story barn has a lean-to addition on the north side and the siding is board and batten. The gambrel roof is covered with wood shingles and has three wooden ventilators. The sign "Scout's Rest Ranch" is painted on the roof as it was in Cody's day "in letters large enough to be read from the Union Pacific, a mile away" (see photo #2 and #4). The exposed rafters under the roof overhang are carved in the shape of gun stocks. At the point of the gable is Annie Oakley's trademark, the ace of spades with a hole in it. The barn is painted red with white trim and battens, as it appears in historic photographs. There are four slide-door entrances along the south side and one on each floor of the west end. Original signs remain included "Col. W. F. Cody" painted on the center ventilator and the sign above the south wagon entrance. Original Wild West posters remain pasted on the interior walls. Structural renovation was done in the same period as the house. New interior supports were placed to reinforce the structure. The siding and roofing material were replaced as needed to match the original.

Cob House The cob house is a small one-story board and batten sided building with gable roof. There is a small four pane window on each gable end and a door in the center of the east and west sides. The boards are painted red and the battens white. On the west side, there are two small chutes covered with hinged wooden flaps painted white (see photo'#5). Each chute empties into a bin which is separated from the center aisle by a partial wall. The storage of corncobs near the house was helpful so they were easily accessible as kindling for the house stoves. The cob house and ice house are believed to have been built at the same time as the house.

Ice House The ice house is a one-story board and batten sided building with one door (see photo #7). The hipped roof has a wooden louvered venti­ lator at the crest. The siding is painted the same as the barn and cob house, red and white. Form No. 10-300a (Rev. 10-74) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OK THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM

CONTINUATION SHEET Description ITEM NUMBER PAGE

Wine Cellar The stone wine cellar is half dug-out with a bulkhead entrance (see photo #8). The cellar was not built by Cody as it does not appear in photographs prior to 1928. The stones used in the construction were salvaged from Codyf s T-barn that burned down. PERIOD AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE -- CHECK AND JUSTIFY BELOW

—PREHISTORIC _ARCHEOLOGY-PREHISTORIC —COMMUNITY PLANNING —LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE —RELIGION _1400-1499 _ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC —CONSERVATION _LAW —SCIENCE —1500-1599 .^AGRICULTURE —ECONOMICS —LITERATURE —SCULPTURE _1600-1^99 _ARCHITECTURE —EDUCATION —MILITARY —SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN _170O-1799 _ART _ENGINEERING _MUSIC J£TH EATER X.1800-1899 —COMMERCE —EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT ^PHILOSOPHY _TRANSPORTATION —1900- —COMMUNICATIONS —INDUSTRY —POLITICS/GOVERNMENT —OTHER (SPECIFY) ^INVENTION

BUILDER/ Patrick Walsh, North Platte

STATEMENTS SIGNIFICANCE "Scout's Rest" was the ranch home of Wm. F. Cody "Buffalo Bill", the premier showman whose Wild West shows created the legend of the American West which is perpetuated in the rodeos and western movies of today. Although not the first to use the western frontier as an outdoor enter­ tainment, Cody developed the Wild West show and dominated it throughout its era. His production became the top show of the genre because he was an excellent showman, one of America's finest. To put it in the words of the Hartford Gourant, 1883, he "out-Barnumed Barnum". The show under various titles toared the U.S. and Europe and brought its special version of the American West to hundreds of thousands of people. The glamour and romance of the American West was created in the Wild West extravaganza. The cowboy became a hero for the first time in the Wild West shows. The idea of the American Indian was changed from the Indian fighting afoot in the books of James Feriimore Cooper to the wild-riding Indian of the Plains. The most famous showmen of the era worked with Buffalo Bill; Annie Oakley "Little Sure Shot" is the most recognized name today. William Frederick Cody was born Febr. 26, 1846 in Le Claire, Iowa. After his father's death in 1857, Will, as the eldest child, worked to help support the family. He had various jobs included those of rider^and mounted messenger for Majors & Russell, a freighting firm. In 1864 he enlisted in the 7th Volunteer Calvary. Contracted to supply meat (buffalo) for construction workers on the Kansas Pacific, Cody became known as Buffalo Bill. For four years he was employed as chief of scouts by General Phil Sheridan for the 5th U.S. Calvary. Employment as a scout for that length of time was unusual and he was highly respected. In 1869 Edward Judson alias Ned Buntline accompanied Cody on one expedition and wrote the first of four; dime ndvelsabout him which started the legend of Buffalo Bill. Buntline persuaded Cody to enter the melodrama stage in Chicago to capitalize on his fame. Cody was on the stage for eleven years before start­ ing the Wild West show. In the summers he worked as a scout and guide for hunting parties, the most notable of which was the expeditions of Grand Duke Alexis of Russia and the Earl of Dunraven. ( For the 4th of July, 1882 Cody organized the "Old Glory Blow put1' for North Platte, Nebraska, which include^ and prizes for contestants in roping, shooting, riding, and bronco breaking. See Continuation Sheet

IEJGEOGR APHIGAL DATA 6.93 acres

Alli-4-l•'. l3l4i9U^r64 i4.5i5f8bi2tOt ell.41 l3J4i9 frf U-i51 518Jli 4i Q[ ZONE'•- .EASTING.j4,0 NORTHING ^ NORTHING ZONE • •• • • •" - i Ch"l4 | [Sl^^fe^rtl 1&515.811.4.01 oil ,41 £| 14.515,013.3.01

LIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARIES

STATE ; CODE COUNTY CODE

STATE CODE COUNTY CODE

FORM PREPARED BY NAME/TITLE Penelope Chatfieldy Curator of Historic Sites ORGANIZATION ; . ^^_ Nebraska State Historical Society STREET & NUMBER TELEPHONE 1500 R Street (402) 432^2793 STATE; ' ^Nebraska ESTATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER CERTIFICATION THE EVALUATED SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS PROPERTY WITHIN THE STATE IS: NATIONAL_JL STATE

As the designated State Historic Preservation Officer for the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89-665), I hereby nominate this property for inclusion in the National Register and certify that it has been evaluated according to the criteria and procedures set forth by the National Park Service. : ;

STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER SIGNATURE V ff / 7 7 TITLE Director, NeMaska State Historical Society DATE

GPO 888-445 Form No. 10-300a (Rev. 10-74) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM

CONTINUATION SHEET Significance ITEM NUMBER 8 PAGE 2______

The success of the show encouraged Cody to stage the first professional Wild West show the following year. The "Old Glory Blow Out" was important to the development of the Wild West show and the rodeo.

The first show opened May 19, 1883 at the Omaha Fair Grounds and was entitled "The Wild West, Hon. W. F. Cody and Dr. W. F. Carver's Rocky Mountain and Prairie Exhibition". Although the first year was difficult, Cody and his partner, Carver were encouraged to continue. Other Wild West shows existed in the U.S. but the showmanship and legends of Buffalo Bill and the whole staff caught the public's attention. As a part of the American Exhibition at Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee in 1887, the show was a smashing success giving a Royal Command Performance and staying in England one year. The show continued to draw record-breaking crowds and played adjacent to the World's Columbian Exposition, 1893 and toured Europe several more times. The acts adapted to the times. The "Battle of San Juan Hill" replaced "Custer's Last Fight" after the Spanish-American War. After the turn of the century, financial problems occured with increasing regularity, Cody lost money on several disasterous investments and there were financial and management problems with the Wild West show. Cody died January 10,1917 after touring with the show until the previous November. World War I marked the end of the era of the Wild West show; very few existed after 1917.

As a ranch, Scout's Rest, under the management of Al Goodman & Cody, initiated several new ranching methods in the area. Cody purchased 4,000 acres in 1877 for the raising of cattle and horses. Cody used imported and blooded cattle and throughbred horses at a time when crossbreeding and throughbred animals were not common in the area. In the 1890's Cody and a neighboring rancher, Isaac Dillon, privately installed a 12 mile canal from the North Platte River in order to irrigate their ranches. Over 1,000 acres on the ranch were then farmed. When financial problems were pressing, Cody sold the ranch in 1911 for $100,000.

Although the major stylistic influence is the French Second Empire, the house in general lacks the height and emphasis on the vertical normally associated with the style. The house is a popular version of the style and was built by a local contractor. Very few examples of the Second Empire style remain in Nebraska. It does not appear to have been a popular style especially in the western part of the state. The other extant examples are in the larger cities of Lincoln and Omaha (see Joel N. Cornish House, Omaha, and Lewis-Syford House, Lincoln, NKHP nominations).

Patrick Walsh was a successful builder in North Platte erecting many houses and the original St. Patrick's Catholic Church. A native of Rochester, New York, Walsh served in the Civil War as a craftsman with the New York Engineers. The contract with Cody to build the house was signed in 1886. Form No. 10-300a (Kev. 10-74) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM

CONTINUATION SHEET Significance ITEM NUMBER 8 PAGE 3

Russell, Don. The Lives and Legends of Buffalo Bill, Norman, Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma, 1960, page 45-54. Form No. 10-300a (Rev. 10-74) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM

CONTINUATION SHEET Bibliography ITEM NUMBER 9 RAGE 2

Game & Parks Commission, State of Nebraska, Scout's Rest Ranch Publications.

Le Roy, George, Supt., Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park, North Platte, Nebraska. Manuscript, 1977. Filed at Nebraska State Historical Society.

Russell, Don The Lives and Legends of Buffalo Bill, Norman, Okla: University of Oklahoma, 1960.

Russell, Don The Wild West or A History of the Wild West Shows, Fort Worth, Texas: Amon Carter Museum of Western Art, 1970.

Whiffen, Marcus American Architectural Since 1780, Cambridge, Mass.: M.I.T. Press, 1969.